I just won a car.
Have you ever won anything big in your life? I’m talking like the lottery or some sweepstakes grand-prize… not a free cheeseburger at McDonalds for getting 3 monopoly pieces. I sure as hell have never had a grand-prize event happen to me…though I’ve also not been one to buy lottery tickets [...]Read Full Article →

I try to save a buck here and there when I purchase big things… I really do. Pam, my parents, or others that know me might dispute that fact, but I think the real point of contention comes from what I purchase, not necessarily the price. Example: “You bought a $4000 telescope?!?!” or [...]Read Full Article →

Parking, that is.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when people drive around forever to find a closer spot or when they stalk you to your car. It’d probably do us lazy Americans some good to park at the back of the lot and use our God-given feet for once. Heck, I don’t [...]Read Full Article →

We had bought Pam’s Miata shortly after getting married when her Saturn literally blew up. Back then, I wanted to get her something fun and sporty (and teach her the versatility of driving manual)… I grasped onto the fact that it was convertible because part of me sorely missed the convertible Mustang I used to [...]Read Full Article →

It’s been a while since the last post… it’s one of those things where you can have a lot to write about, but you put it off so much that when it comes down to it, there’s really not much to say. Vacations, traveling, Grad School (bleh – but I am on the backside [...]Read Full Article →

One thing that you start to think of when planning for a kid (or after you realize that one is on the way) is the financial situation. This becomes a little more tasking with a two-income family. Since being married, Pam and I have gotten used to living on two incomes. Once the kid arrives, we’ll [...]Read Full Article →

Maybe it’s just me, but the most worthless light in every American-made automobile is the “Service Engine Soon” light. I had to stare at it for most of the 8-hour drive to Baltimore yesterday. It’s too bad you can’t just reset it… because not only is it worthless, but it’s also very annoying.
To the average [...]Read Full Article →

The last 3 months have been like any “real-deal” rotation I’ve been on: about 90% boredom with the occasional, unexpected 10% heart-thumping action. As already mentioned, the 90% portion of the TDY quickly established itself as Groundhog Day. To keep my mind engaged and fight boredom, I caught myself making plans, daydreaming, and playing around [...]Read Full Article →

An expensive digital SLR camera that quits working on you? $300
An iPod that’s been dropped one too many times? $250
A laptop that likes to drink wine? $1500
A truck with bald tires and a lot of rain? $6500
Not ever having to go through 2006 again? Priceless!
There are some things money [...]Read Full Article →

If you remember back about 1½ months ago, Pam and I did a little off-roading in our pickup truck. Needless to say I enjoy off-roading and doing donuts and the sort, but this time it was definitely unintentional. The car has been at a body shop in Columbia, SC for what seems like [...]Read Full Article →